Posted Sun Aug 20, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaine
Is there such a thing as returning to normal with disc releases? Probably not, but compared to last week the 4K category has grown by leaps and bounds. This week we see a black comedy (without a Wayans brother at the helm), Jack Skellington gets a 4K update, Antonio Banderas' best known character, and more.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 12 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of August 20th - August 26th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
Leading the week with a catalog upgrade, because, it has grown such a following and we are leading the guide with it. From Disney, The Nightmare Before Christmas gets a Standard Edition and a "Disney 100" style Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.
Shout Factory brings us Hackers, which is available as a Collector's Edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. As a collector, I am perplexed at the lack of a slipcover on the "Collector's Edition".
From Sony Pictures, The Legend of Zorro gets a 4K upgrade. Good to see the sequels also get the 4K upgrade treatment.
Arrow Video offers up nostalgic 1985 with Weird Science.
Closing out the catalog title category, barring any delays, the 'Indicator Series' releases for The Night of the Hunted and The Rape of the Vampire release on Tuesday as well.
Out of sequence, I know, new release last this week, from Lionsgate we have comedy/horror titled The Blackening, which comes available as a Standard Edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.
Next week, a Time Bandits import (with swag), Chucky 4-7, Battlestar and more!
Blu-ray counterparts of the above releases include The Blackening from LionsGate and the pair of Indicator Series titles, The Night of the Hunted and The Rape of the Vampire.
The rest of this category is pretty barren. As always though, here are the highlights:
A rather random catalog title from Sony Pictures with 1981's American Pop, an 'animated trek across the musical landscape of the 20th century'.
Arrow Video this week has Unman, Wittering and Zigo, a drama/thriller.
LionsGate this week offers something other than an action/thriller with a comedy titled You Hurt My Feelings.
If you did not import the Imprint release, this week Kino has you covered with Pretty Baby.
Another animated music film, but this time Warner Bros, look for Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar.
Four films on four discs from Criterion with Bo Widerberg’s New Swedish Cinema.
A minimalist week for Anime, Ranking of Kings Season 1 Part 2, which is available as a Standard Edition and Limited Edition, and Reincarnated as a Sword: Complete Collection.
Worthy Mention: Shout Factory releases the thriller Coma (1978), Michael Crichton does the adaptation of a book instead of the other way around, someone adapting his book.
Next week we do get a significant increase in titles in this category.
The Criterion Collection has announced their November line up. Do check it out!
Kino Lorber has finalized the details for Red Dragon 4K and Cujo 4K / blu-ray releases. They are scheduled to arrive on October 24th. They have also announced a new product line titled "Kino Cult" with three titles already slated. The debut titles are Lorna the Exorcist, Alien Outlaw and The Dark Power and they all release on October 24th.
Universal will be releasing M3GAN to 4K disc on October 10th. Before we get overly excited though, it does look like they are adding Atmos sound, but only including HDR10. Meanwhile the streaming version has Dolby Vision AND HDR10+. Still, we gain something. There is also a good chance (rumor) that The Black Phone will be out in October. Turbine Media is also releasing The Black Phone in Germany on October 5th. Will Scream Factory do them with Dolby Vision and more extras?
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.